AHDB has launched a new portal to help put potato growers and wholesale buyers in touch with each other.

How will it work for growers?

Growers can view any requests on the portal from merchants and/or post available stocks of potatoes. When posting available stocks you’ll be asked to submit a location, variety and information about how long the potatoes have been in store. There will also be a box to submit detail about quality. You can then wait for merchants to reply to your request, or reply to any merchant posts on the portal.

To get started simply click the link above, then click the button to ‘create account’. Once you have an account, you can log-in to make any changes to your posts.

Contact from potential buyers will come direct via the contact details you share on the site – but only registered users will be able to see these details.

How will it work for merchants?

Merchants can view available stocks from growers and/or post requests for specific varieties and/or volumes of potatoes. You’ll be asked to submit a location for delivery and to provide details about your needs. You can then wait for growers to respond to your request, or contact the growers who have left posts on the portal.

Simply click the link above, then click the button to ‘create account’. Once you have an account, you can log-in to make any changes to your posts.

Contact from potential suppliers will come direct via the contact details you share on the site – but only registered users will be able to see these details.

Why has AHDB launched this portal?

During the coronavirus pandemic AHDB, NFU, NFUS, PPA, FPSA and the BPTA have held weekly catch-up calls to discuss issues affecting the sector. On one of these calls it was suggested that a portal would help smooth the supply of potatoes in a market that had been disrupted by a rapidly changing demand profile.

Let’s say a buyer normally has good contacts for the supply of potatoes for the fresh-pack market in their area, but due to increased demand at retail their normal suppliers are running low – it may be that there is a grower outside of their normal region or contact list that can meet the need – the potato portal can help them find a grower with available stocks.

The portal has been set up by AHDB, via the creators of the Graindex and Sell My Livestock websites, but NFU and BPTA have contributed to the design process, to ensure growers and merchants were represented.

Will the potato portal be GDPR compliant and data secure?

Yes. Data is held securely in line with regulations and security testing has been completed.

Will there be a process for help and complaints?

Yes. The team that runs the website has a live support function to help you use the site. You can also report any inappropriate behaviour from buyers or sellers to be investigated by the team.